• Social Studies Curriculum: Fifth Grade 

    The School District of Clayton’s elementary third through fifth grade Social Studies curriculum is grounded in the Learning for Justice Standards of Justice and Action. In our version of the “expanding horizons model”, students are encouraged to move beyond their local community to consider the history and culture of our city of St. Louis, the state of Missouri and the country of the United States. However, a global perspective is introduced to consider the context of the development of the United States.  Through exposure to different perspectives of our shared history, we aim to develop cultural awareness and student empathy. To varying degrees of emphasis at each grade level, we connect the five strands of social studies - history, civics, economics, geography and culture - but our primary area of study is our nation’s history and the various ways in which this history has impacted our world today. 

     

    Fifth  grade students will explore our country’s history using these essential questions.

     

    • How did people’s identities influence specific rights they had access to within the United States?

    • How does the story of U.S. history depend upon perspective and where you live?

    • How does the concept of an “American” change over time? 



    With three social studies units, students will delve into the following topics:

     

    Unit 1: Review Foundations of US Government + Civil War

    • System of checks and balances

    • Federalism / limited government

    • Separation of powers

    • Basic rights/freedoms within the Bill of Rights 

    • Causes of the Civil War - disagreements over slavery, election of Abraham Lincoln, Bleeding Kansas, Fugitive Slave Act

    •  Identify Native American culture, resistance and assimilation 

    • Examine the changing roles among African Americans before, during, and after the Civil War 

     

    Unit 2 : American Industrialization and Immigration

    • Identify the causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution.

    • Explain the role of immigration in America

    • Explore Nativism and the discriminatory practices within US immigration policies 

     

    Unit 3 : Expansion of Rights

    • Identify the expansion of rights for a variety of historically marginalized peoples.

    • Explain the role of the federal government and local citizen groups in the expansion of rights for various groups.

    • Identify various groups and strategies that fought for civil rights.

    • Identify causes and consequences of US economic growth.

    • Explain how American culture changed as a result of advancements in technology and transportation.

    Fifth grade Social Studies Learning Objectives

    Social studies is a multi-disciplinary, integrated approach to the study of people, their physical environment, history, leadership and cultures. The 3rd - 5th grade social studies program weaves together culture, geography, civics, economics and history, but our country’s history is the primary area of interest.   Students critically study the diverse history of our state and our country while considering multiple perspectives.   Through the social justice lenses of justice and action, we consider mistakes that have been made in the past as a way in improve our current communities

    Geography

    • There has been internal and international migrations of people that has shifted the demographics of the U.S. 


    Culture

    • The culture of the United States has changed since the Civil War to become more inclusive and expand rights to more people. 

    • Immigration has significantly impacted American Culture

    History

    • The United States has become more involved in international affairs such as World War I, World War II and the Cold War

    • The United States has become more prosperous and expanded the rights of citizens such as African Americans and women through the extension of voting rights. 

    Economics

    • The post-Civil War Industrial Revolution and subsequent economic growth of the United States has impacted the everyday lives of citizens. 

     

    Government

    • The United States government has expanded since the Civil War to become much more involved in the daily lives of its people.

    • The United States government has involved to extend democratic rights to more people